Original Mandarin story series
The Little Noodle Shop
小面馆
The Little Noodle Shop (小面馆, Xiǎo miànguǎn) is a SayMei Original, written in simple Mandarin as an 8-chapter story with audio for learners at about HSK 1 (Beginner).
A SayMei original: a family noodle shop, its funny regulars and a missing blue bowl. Follow Xiao Mei as she solves the mystery and helps a shy boy make a very long birthday noodle.
Meet the voices
- Xiao Mei · 小美 — A quick, cheerful ten-year-old who helps in her family's noodle shop and loves solving puzzles.
- Baba (Old Lin) · 爸爸 — Xiao Mei's kind, patient father who cooks every bowl by hand.
- Nainai · 奶奶 — Xiao Mei's sharp-eyed grandmother who counts every coin and treasures the shop's first blue bowl.
- Lao Wang · 老王 — A big, hungry taxi driver who orders very carefully and loves to laugh.
- Teacher Li · 李老师 — A precise schoolteacher who always wants red chopsticks.
- Xiao Hu · 小虎 — A shy seven-year-old who slips into the shop at night to bring noodles to his tired mother.
- Xiao Hu's Mama · 小虎妈妈 — Xiao Hu's gentle mother who works long hours.
- Boss Gao · 高老板 — A loud, slick restaurant owner whose free noodles come out of a packet.
8 chapters, one journey
Chapter 1: The Blue Bowl
蓝碗在哪里
Grandma's old blue bowl has vanished from the shelf on the very morning of a busy day. Then Xiao Mei spots something small and white on the kitchen floor.
Free to read
Chapter 2: Extra Money
多了五块钱
Grandma counts the money and finds five yuan too many, plus a mysterious note. Xiao Mei decides to catch the secret customer herself.
SayMei Stories
Chapter 3: The Night Guest
晚上的客人
In the dark shop, Xiao Mei waits and rehearses what to say. When the mystery guest finally shows up, he is much smaller than she expected.
SayMei Stories
Chapter 4: Free Noodles
对面开店了
Grandma isn't angry at all, and Xiao Hu shares his big secret wish. But a shiny new restaurant opens across the street, and the whole shop goes quiet.
SayMei Stories
Chapter 5: The Lesson Sign
学做面
Grandma's clever idea fills the shop with people and flour. Xiao Hu's first long noodle is so close to perfect, until it snaps.
SayMei Stories
Chapter 6: The River Bench
河边
Xiao Mei finds Xiao Hu alone by the river and tells him about her own worst noodle day. Then they walk past the empty restaurant across the street.
SayMei Stories
Chapter 7: The Long Noodle
长长的面
On Sunday morning Xiao Hu tries again with Dad's slow hands, and the noodle just keeps growing. Then two surprises arrive at the door at once.
SayMei Stories
Chapter 8: Happy Birthday, Mama
妈妈，生日快乐
Xiao Hu's mother walks into the shop just as the birthday noodle is ready. What happens to the blue bowl, and to Boss Gao?
SayMei Stories
Key words in The Little Noodle Shop
Behind the story
A small family noodle shop, or 面馆, is one of the most familiar sights on a Chinese street. Regulars know the cook by name, and many have an order so particular that the family remembers it for years. This story is a SayMei original, made up for learners, but the shop, the regulars and their fussy orders will feel real to anyone who has eaten in one.
The long birthday noodle in the story is a real custom. Called 长寿面, or longevity noodles, it is served on birthdays as a wish for a long life. The noodle is left uncut and the eater tries not to bite it in two, which is why Xiao Hu works so hard to keep his from breaking.
Did you know?
- Longevity noodles are usually one very long strand, and many families add an egg on top for a birthday.
- Hand-pulled noodles start as a single lump of dough that is stretched and folded again and again until it becomes many thin strands.
- Noodles are eaten in China for breakfast, lunch or dinner, and loud slurping is not considered rude.